Not to be confused with the Hal Hartley film of the same title (nor indeed the 1981 Canadian film that previously adapted the source novel) this espionage thriller sees Oscar winner Rami Malek up to his cryptographic tricks again (remember, he starred in the excellent and underappreciated Mr Robot a few years back).
How to watch The Amateur in New Zealand
The Amateur sneaks into New Zealand cinemas on April 10, 2025.
What is The Amateur about?
After his wife is killed in a terrorist attack, CIA analyst Charles Heller demands his superiors train him up for field duty and set him on the trail of the perpetrators. They’re not entirely convinced, but never underestimate righteous revenge as a motivating factor. Also, never underestimate a CIA analyst—after all, that’s how Jack Ryan started out.
This one is based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell, whose decade-spanning 2002 CIA book The Company begat the eponymous 2007 miniseries, and comes to us from director James Hawes and screenwriters Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli. It’s been in the works for a while, too; back in 2006 Hugh Jackman was slated to star, but obviously that never came to pass.
The cast of The Amateur
Rami Malek is Charles Heller; Holt McCallany is CIA Deputy Director Moore; Adrian Martinez is Carlos; Laurence Fishburne is Henderson, who seems to be Heller’s trainer based on the trailer; Rachel Brosnahanis Sarah; while Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Julianne Nicholson, Danny Sapani, and Takehiro Hira are playing characters yet to be revealed.
The Amateur trailer
Why we’re excited about The Amateur
Well, it vibes like a meat and potatoes espionage thriller, but we’re big fans of meat and potatoes espionage thrillers, so that’s in it’s favour. Rami Malek has kind of been spinning his wheels since his Bohemian Rhapsody Oscar win, so hopefully this gives him something to sink his teeth into. We shall see.
